M's, Washburn near deal

Seattle also exploring swap with Red Sox for Arroyo

Published 10:00 pm, Friday, December 16, 2005

The Mariners may be on the verge of altering their rotation with two moves that could hasten, or at least help, the return of winning baseball to Seattle.

With between $10 million and $12 million left under their 2006 payroll, the Mariners have enough money left that they could enter the holidays with both Jarrod Washburn and Bronson Arroyo locked into their rotation for the coming year.

Two industry sources told the Post-Intelligencer on Friday that Seattle's interest in Washburn had intensified over the week, and CBS SportsLine.com reported late in the day that the Mariners were approaching a four-year deal with the left-hander, late of the Los Angeles Angels, that would pay him $36 million to $38 million.

The average annual value of the reported deal -- nearly $9 million -- fits within Washburn's expected market value, between Matt Morris, who signed with the Giants, and A.J. Burnett, who signed with the Blue Jays.

It would also enable Seattle to add a $3 million pitcher and remain within its budget. That happens to be the value Arroyo -- a right-hander who won 14 games with the Red Sox in 2005 -- is expected to earn through salary arbitration.

"If it's Arroyo," said one industry source with knowledge of the situation, "they'd both fit."

Sources indicated Friday the Mariners have maintained trade talks with the Red Sox on Seattle center fielder Jeremy Reed. A deal is not expected before the end of the weekend, however, and is unlikely to occur unless Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon signs elsewhere, according to one Red Sox official.

Boston has at least one other outside option to fill center field should Damon depart, but one Red Sox official said "a solid majority" of the club's semi-democratic front office would favor a move for Reed if Damon does not return to Boston.

Another industry source who spoke with a Red Sox scout said Boston's interest in Reed is "pretty strong."

Red Sox outfielder Trot Nixon, a topic of conversation between the clubs at the winter meetings, would not be part of any trade involving Reed, the Red Sox source said. Instead, the Mariners would likely receive one of two right-handed pitchers, Arroyo or Matt Clement.

If Seattle signs Washburn, Clement, who will make $9.5 million next year, would be too expensive.

Boston may want to keep Arroyo because he is cheaper -- his 2006 salary is not likely to exceed $3 million -- and can work out of the bullpen. That is of particular relevance since the club's stockpile of starting pitchers -- which now includes Cy Young candidate Josh Beckett -- could push Arroyo into long relief.

Then again, $3 million would be a hefty salary to pay a long relief pitcher. So, if the Red Sox believe Arroyo is a long shot to make the rotation, they may be inclined to move him now.

The reported acceleration in talks with Washburn came as somewhat of a surprise, since the Mariners were believed to be content to wait until Damon signed before making a decision, since Clement's contract would be more appealing than either free agent Kevin Millwood's or Washburn's.

On Friday, multiple sources with knowledge of the talks insisted they did not expect a Boston-Seattle trade before Damon's decision. As one source put it: "I don't think Boston would trade a starting pitcher to get a backup outfielder."

If Reed is dealt, the Mariners would likely look to the outside for his replacement, given Ichiro Suzuki's preference to remain in right field. Manager Mike Hargrove said he has not spoken with Ichiro about a potential move to center field, and does not appear likely to do so.

"If I even entertained that thought, I would talk to Ichiro before I talked to anybody else about it," Hargrove said Friday.

The Mariners have not maintained regular contact with representatives for free agent Preston Wilson, one option in center field, but that dialogue could resume if Reed is traded.